Corn cutting and shocking machine.



` PATENTED JUNE z8, 1904..

D. T. PHILLIPS. CORN CUTTING AND SHOCKING MACHINE.

APILIOATION FILED JAN'.l 6. 1.9041

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 IODEL.

ma mams Farms No.` 763,632. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

` D. T. PHILLIPS.

CORN CUTTING AND SHOCKING MACHINE.

APPLIoATlon FILED JAN. 6, 1904.

No MODEL. 4 sums-Smm a.

110.763,632. Y BATENTBD JUNE 28, 1904.l n. T. PHILLIPS.

CORN cuTmN-G NNDl sHooKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1904.

H0 MODEL. 4 BHEBTS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

DARIUS T. PHILLIPS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK C. STEVENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CORN CUTTING AND SHOCKINC-` MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 763,632, dated June 28, 1904.

Application lefl January 6, 1904. Serial No. 187,949. (No model.)

Be it known that I, DARIUs T. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn Cutting and Shocking Machines, of which the following` isa specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-harvesting machines of the type adapted to be drawn across a field of standing corn to cut the latter near the base of the stalks, gather and form it into shocks, and deposit the shocks in upright position at interval along the path of the machine.

My object is to provide a machine of the above type of generally improved construction which will render the machine particularly simple, compact, and durable, as well as eminently desirable for its purpose.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a partly-broken side elevation of my improved machine, the positions of certain parts when discharging a completed shock being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 2, a plan view of the machine also indicating by dotted lines certain parts in discharging positions; Fig. 3, a rear end elevation of the machine; Fig. 4, a partly-broken plan View of the main frame and running-gear of the machine; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken partly-sectional view, the section being taken on line 5 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a broken section taken on line 6 in Fig. 5,

. and Fig. 7 an enlarged broken elevation of a yportion of one of a pair of collapsible shockshaping rods forming one of the details of the construction.

The main frame of the machine may comprise, as shown, an endless rim A, which may be of angle or channel iron. Fastened upon the rim is a board iiooring B. At opposite sides of the rear end portion of the frame are downward-extending brackets a a, presenting journal-bearings for a shaft or axle C, provided with suitable rollers or wheels vD D. At the forward end of the frame and fastened in the flooring B is a sleeve b, in which is journaled a caster E. At the front end of the platform isa hook or the like c, to which the draft-animal is hitched. Fastcned to the i'ioor at the forward part of the machine are guard-rails F F, and at thc base thereof are foot-guard plates GG anddownward-extending guard-plates H, which may be integral with the foot-plates G. Extending laterally from the lower ends of the guard-plates H in a backward-inclined direction are horizontal plates I I. Itemovably fastened to the for-y ward edges of the plates I are knives I' I. The plates I terminate at elevator-frames K K on opposite sides of the machine, which are suitably braced, as by thc straps e and rodsf, to extend, as shown, in a slightly backward inclined direction. On the axle C are gearwheels r, each meshing with a pinion L on a shaft e', journaled in the lower end of the re'- spective elevator-frame, the said shafts carrying sprockets driving sprocket-chains 7c, running over sprocket-wheels Z, journaled in adjustable belt-tightening bearings m at the tops of the elevator-frames. Each pair of chains in carries elevator-slats n.. Each elevater-frame K is in the form of a nearly vertically extending trough open at the upper end.

L is a bar provided at its forward end with a handle L. On the rear end of the platform B is a bracket M, having a backward-extending part presenting parallel arms p, downward-extending stops g, and upward-inclined stop fr, as indicated most plainly in Figs. 5 and 6. The free ends of the arms p form bearings for a short shaft s, which between the arms p carries a stud or bearing-pin This pin extends loosely through a sleeve or bushing o in the center of the bar L toward the rear end of the latter. A pin or Cotter t/ extends through the upper end portion of the pin t into sockets c in the upper end of the sleeve or bushing n. The connection between Vthe bar L and bracket M is such that the bar may swing from the position shown in full lines in Fig. l to that shown by dotted lines inthe said figure and may rock to a limited extent upon the stud or pin t. u

N is a frusto-conical shock-forming receptacle constructed w1th two similar side sections fw fw, preferably of sheet-iron or the like. The adjacent edges '10 of the sections w are bent closely around and fastened rigidly to rods P P, which in turn at openings 102 in the sections pass through straps m m on the bar L in a manner to forni hinged connections between the sections w and the bar L. At the rear end of the bar L the rods extend across each other, as shown in Fig. 3. Beyond the point where the rods cross each other they are formed of curved sections hinged together at .r/ U- Fig. 7 shows the manner of hinging the sections together. The base of one section is spread, as indicated, and provided at opposite sides with stops y/ y. The other section is pivotally secured, by means of a pin y2, to the section having the stops. When the receptacle N is in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the rods or strips P at their curved portions extend approximately in the vertical plane, when the sections thereof of their own weight and limited by the stops y assume a circle, as shown in Fig. 3, the free ends over: lapping each other. The circle described by the rods or strips P when vertical, as described, is approximately concentric with the circle described by the sections w.

Q is a rod describing a segment of a circle and passing midway between its ends through a bearing 2, fastened to the pin or stud t between the bar L and bracket M. Rigidly secured tothe rod Q at the bearing e is an arm Q, from the free end of which extends a chain or other flexible connection Q2, fastened at its opposite end tothe bracket v. Each of the sections w is provided on its outer side with a guide w3, fastened at opposite ends to the said section and extending at the relative angles shown in Fig. 1. The rod Q toward its free ends passes loosely through the guides w3.

rlhe machine is constructed to cut and shock two rows of standing corn at once, and the knives I are of a length to cut rows planted from three to four feet apart, as is usual, when the machine travels between them.

In operation a single horse or horses in tandem, if desired, is attached to the draft-hook c and two operators stand upon the platform B. The operators are protected against falling olf by the railings F and foot-guards In the forward travel of the machine between two rows of corn the gear connections between the traction wheels or rollers D and elevators cause the latter to run, whereby the elevatorslats rise at the forward sides at desired speed. The operators may readily grasp standing corn or down corn as they pass and steady the stalks while the knives I sever them. As the stalks are severed the butt-ends thereof move in the forward travel of the machine to the elevator on that side and are raised to the top thereof.

Hinged upon rods 9 at the free edges of the sections w are laterally-extending guides R R.

These guides have rear upwardextending flanges 10 and outer downwardextending flanges 11. The hinged connections at 9 are such that when the receptacle is in the position shown by full lines in the figures the guides extend over the upper ends of the elevators in the manner shown, and they permit slight play of the guides in the upward direction from that position. The butt-ends of the stalks are elevated, as described, to the top of the sections w, while the operator holds the upper ends of the stalks. On reaching the top of the elevator the butt-ends of the stalks are deposited upon the guides R, which, as shown, extend in a slightly-downward slant-- ing direction to the opening between the sections w. The operator swings-his end of the stalks to the gap betweeny the sections as the butts of the stalks slide from the guide R to the said gap, whereby the said butt-ends fall upon the rods P and slide down between the latter and the inner surfaces of the sections w. When the said space is filled, a sufficient number of stalks have been gathered to cornplete a shock.

Beneath the forward end portion of the bar L is a twinefbox 12. 0n one of the sections w (in the position indicated) is a pair of perforations 13, and on the opposite section (in the position shown) is a` twine-engaging clip 14:. A length of twine 15 extends from the twine-box through the perforations 13, which hold and tension the twine, and the twine in practice is looped downward between the sections and fastened at its free end in the clip 111. The perforations 13 and clip 14 operate as twineepositioners, and as the stalks are gathered, as described, they extend in the loop formed by the twine between the sections fw. As soon as sufficient stalks have been gathered one of the operators draws the twine around the bundle of cornstalks and ties it, severing the twine between the knot and the perforations 13. An operator then grasps the handle L and raises the bar L and receptacle N on the pivot s until the parts are swung to the approxi mately vertical position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. 0n nearing this latter position a pin Q:i on the arm Q/ contacts with thc stop q, thereby retarding the movement of the rod Q and causing the guides 10: to move along the opposite end portions of the said rod. As the guides are parallel with the tapering surfaces of the frusto-conical recep tacle, this movement of the guides upon the rod causes the sections w to be swung outward to the -position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The turning of the sections w turns the rods P at the hinged connections in the straps fn, and by reason of the rods being crossed, as shown in Fig. 3, their end portions, formed of hinged sections, as described, are moved toward each other. Thus when the sections fw reach the position shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the rods P at IIOv Ils

their first hinges are turned to the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, leaving the two outer sections free to extend as there In practice I prefer to have the sectionsw open out to release the shock when the latter has been raised to or very nearly to the ver,-

tical position, and extends at the butt-ends.

ing in the field. An operator then turns thev receptacle back to its original position-thatl indicated by full lines in the figures-and in the turning the flexible connection or chain Q2 causes the rod Q to resume its normal position, whereby the sections w approach again their normal relative positions'and the rods I) are spread out, causing the hinged sections thereof to drop by gravity into the circular plane shown in Fig. 3. The loose connection between the bar L and pin L described permits sufiicient play to cause the receptacle to readily free itselfl from the discharged shock and without disturbing the latter should the machine move over uneven ground while freeing itself. The slight play of the guides R upon the hinged connections 9 also permits the guides to slide readily over the top ends of the elevator-frames during any jar upon the machine while it may be moving.

It will be understood that in the discharging movement of the shock-forming receptacle N the rod Q moves therewith until stopped by contact of the pin Q3 with the arm or stop g. In the further movement ofthe receptacle toward the vertical plane the rod Q spreads the sections w apart to open the receptacle and collapse the shock-spreading device or rodsP, as indicated by the dotted lines. When the receptacle is raised again, the rod Q moves with it until the flexible connection. .or chain Q2 stops further movement, after which the sections w in sliding at their guides w3 on the rod Q are moved toward each other and in turning cause the spreader mechanism or rods I) to resume their positions shown by full lines.

Variations in details may be made without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.

WIhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A corn cutting and shocking machine comprising, in combination, a main frame mounted on running-gear, comprising two rear wheels and a forward caster, a platform on the forward part of the main frame, upwardly-extending guard-rails at opposite sides of said platform, foot-guard plates secured to opposite edges of said platform, horizontal laterally-extending and backwardly-inclined knife-carrying plates at the lower ends of said guardplates, a pivotally mounted shockforming receptacle on the main frame, means for turning the said receptacle between shockreceiving and shock-discharging positions, a

cornstalk-elevator at each side of the framev operatively geared to said rear wheels and extending upward from said knife-carrying plates, and hinged guides at the upper ends of th eferlevators, for guiding-thez-stalks therefrom to the receptacle, all constructed and arranged to operate substantiallyas and for the purpose setforth. l

2. In a corn-shocker, the combination with a main, frame and running-gear, of a shockforming receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame to turnbetween receiving and discharging positions, as described, and formed of relatively expansible and contractible sections,

and a shock-spreading device in the receptacle comprising cooperating relatively collapsible strips, each formed of relatively swinging sections connected together, with means for causing the said strip-sections to assume the shock-spreading position when thereceptacle is in the stalk-receiving position, and to extend approximately parallel for ready Withdrawal from the shock when the receptacle is in its shock-discharging position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a corn-shocker, the combination with a main frame and running-gear, of a shockforming receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame to turn between approximately horizontal stalk-receiving and approximately vertical shock-discharging positions, and formed of relatively expansible and contractible sections, and a shock-spreading device in the receptacle comprising relatively collapsible strips each formed of curved sections hinged together', with means for causing the said strip-sections to assume the shock-spreading position when the receptacle is in the stalkreceiving position, and to extend approximately parallel for ready withdrawal from the shock when the receptacle is in its shock- /dscharging position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a corn-shocker, the combination with a main frame and running-gear, of a shockforming receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame to turn between approximately horizontal stalk-receiving and approximately vertical shock-discharging positions and formed of sections having relative opening and closing movements, means for producing opening movement of said sections in the movement of the receptacle toward the vertical plane, and closing movement of said sections in the movement of the receptacle toward the horizontal plane, and a shock-spreading device in the receptacle comprising relatively collapsible strips, each formed of curved sections hinged together, with means for causing the said strip-sections to assume the shock-spreading IOO IOS

tral bar, sections hinged to opposite sides of said bar, and means for producing opening movement of said sections in the discharging movement of the receptacle and closing movement of the sections in the movement of the receptacle to the receiving position, comprising a rod movable in guides on said sections and stop mechanism for limiting the movement of the rod in both directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a corn-shocker, the combination With a main frame and running-gear, of a shockforming receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame to turn between receiving and discharging positions, as described, comprising a central bar, sections hinged to opposite sides of said bar, and means for producing opening movement of said sections in the discharging movement of the receptacle and closing movement of said sections in the movement of thereceptacle Ato the receiving position, comprising a rod pivotally supported between its ends on the main frame and movable toward its free ends in guides on said sections, and stop mechanism, for limiting the movement of the said rod, consisting of an arm integral with said rod, a stop on the main frame in the path of movement of said arm in one direction, and a flexible connection fastened at opposite ends respectively to said arm and to a stationary part of the said main frame, operating to limit the movement of said arm in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DARIUS T. PHILLIPS.

In presence of- WALTER N. WINBERG, J. W. DYRENFORTH. 

